Starting with Barbara Frum

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9-10

Starting with Barbara Frum

Project type: Web Quest

Related topic:
Barbara Frum: Pioneering Broadcaster

Subjects

Media Studies
Political Science
English Language Arts

Summary

Using a variety of Web-based and other resources, students will choose a topic treated by Barbara Frum and investigate it further. They will share their findings in a formal essay.

Duration

2 to 3 lessons

Purpose

To investigate further an interesting idea raised in a broadcast interview

PDF

frum_startingwithfrum.pdf

Before Exploring

Barbara Frum said she looked for what was “fresh” in her subjects; finding this allowed her to reveal the truth about many fascinating subjects. The breadth of subject matter that Frum investigated can be used as a beginning for further study on a variety of subjects. Use this activity to suit the content that you have been studying in class.

Outline the Opportunity

Direct students to the Barbara Frum topic on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Ask students to browse the clips and to choose one that focuses on a topic that interests them. Topics might include:

values of children’s television programming

relationship between Quebec and the rest of Canada

eco-terrorism

limits of television

journalism and ethics

steroids and sports

sexism, feminism

evolution of radio

Nelson Mandela

Margaret Thatcher

Canadian broadcasters

literary vs. popular fiction.

Once students have chosen a topic, they will conduct a Web search to gather further information. Using online and other sources, students will write a formal essay on a relevant aspect of their chosen topic.

Revisit and Reflect

Ask students to prepare a brief oral presentation for the class explaining their choice of topic, stating their thesis, and explaining how Barbara Frum’s treatment of the topic interested them in that topic.